This Just In

Regional Report - This Just In

November 30, 2008|By David Damron, Sentinel Staff Writer

ORANGE COUNTY

Orange County Commissioners are going in slightly different directions on how to handle publicly funded marketing assistance to the region's beleaguered tourism industry. This month, top executives from Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando met with Orange County's tourist-tax watchdog, Comptroller Martha Haynie, to see if revenues are available from that levy for a tourism-marketing campaign. Haynie said there could be anything from no funds to an amount less than $2 million in unspent tourist-tax revenues at the end of the year. Tourism boosters already received $100 million in the past two years for such efforts after commissioners split the proceeds from a penny hike in the 5-cent tourist tax. The rest of the tax hike is to fund a $1.1 billion downtown sports and arts venue plan. Commissioner Mildred Fernandez said she would likely oppose such a request for any leftover funds. But Commissioner Bill Segal said the vital industry could use some help, and he would likely favor putting any scraps left in the convention center's operating and repair funds toward good advertising. Commissioner Linda Stewart said she would consider giving out leftover funds only if the agency that runs the marketing campaign, the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, opens its books more. All three sitting commissioners are pondering a run for mayor when term-limited Rich Crotty leaves office in 2010. Former Commissioner Teresa Jacobs and former state Sen. Daniel Webster are also considering a run.